Tail-biting turbo coding to accommodate any information and/or interleaver block size

Abstract

Tail-biting turbo coding to accommodate any information and/or interleaver block size. The beginning and ending state of a turbo encoder can be made the same using a very small number of dummy bits. In some instances, any dummy bits that are added to an information block before undergoing interleaving are removed after interleaving and before transmission of a turbo coded signal via a communication channel thereby increasing throughput (e.g., those dummy bits are not actually transmitted via the communication channel). In other instances, dummy bits are added to both the information block that is encoded using a first constituent encoder as well as to an interleaved information block that is encoded using a second constituent encoder.

1. An apparatus, comprising:
 a dummy bit module that is operable to analyze an information block, and based on a size of the information block, is operable to:
 output the information block; or 
 add a dummy bit or a plurality of dummy bits to the information block thereby generating a modified information block; 
 
 a first constituent encoder that is operable to encode the information block or the modified information block thereby generating a first encoded plurality of bits; 
 an interleaver module that is operable to interleave the information block or the modified information block thereby generating an interleaved information block; 
 a second constituent encoder that is operable to encode the interleaved information block thereby generating a second encoded plurality of bits; and wherein: 
 bits alternatively selected from the first encoded plurality of bits and the second encoded plurality of bits operable to form an encoded block; 
 the alternatively selected bits operable to undergo modulation to generate a turbo coded signal that comports with a communication channel; and 
 when a size of the information block is an integer multiple of a predetermined, prohibited value for which tail-biting turbo encoding cannot be performed, the dummy bit module is operable to add one bit to the information block thereby generating the modified information block. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the interleaver module is operable to employ a quadratic polynomial permutation (QPP) interleave when interleaving the information block or the modified information block. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the interleaver module is operable to employ a quadratic polynomial permutation (QPP) interleave when interleaving the information block or the modified information block; 
 the apparatus is implemented in a first communication device; 
 the first communication device is a coupled to a second communication device via the communication channel; 
 the second communication device is operable to receive the turbo coded signal from the communication channel; 
 the second communication device includes a turbo decoder that is operable to perform decoding processing of the turbo coded signal thereby generating a best estimate of at least one information bit encoded within the turbo coded signal; and 
 the turbo decoder is operable to employ the QPP interleave and a QPP de-interleave that corresponds to the QPP interleave when performing decoding processing of the turbo coded signal. 
 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 when a size of the information block matches an interleaver block size of the interleaver, the dummy bit module is operable to output the information block. 
 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 an apparatus being a turbo encoder; and 
 during encoding of the modified information block, the turbo encoder beginning at an initial state, transitioning through a plurality of states, and ending at a last state being same as the initial state. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the apparatus is implemented within a first communication device; 
 a turbo decoder is implemented within a second communication device; and 
 the first communication device and the second communication device are coupled via the communication channel; and wherein: 
 the turbo decoder includes a plurality of parallel arranged turbo decoders that is operable to decode the turbo coded signal. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the apparatus is implemented within a wireless personal communication device. 
 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the apparatus is a wireless communication device that is operable within a wireless communication system. 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the apparatus is operable within at least one of a satellite communication system, a wireless communication system, a wired communication system, and a fiber-optic communication system. 
 
     
     
       10. An apparatus, comprising:
 a dummy bit module that is operable to analyze an information block, and based on a size of the information block, is operable to:
 output the information block; or 
 add a dummy bit or a plurality of dummy bits to the information block thereby generating a modified information block; 
 
 a first constituent encoder that is operable to encode the information block or the modified information block thereby generating a first encoded plurality of bits; 
 an interleaver module that is operable to interleave the information block or the modified information block thereby generating an interleaved information block; 
 a second constituent encoder that is operable to encode the interleaved information block thereby generating a second encoded plurality of bits; and wherein: 
 bits alternatively selected from the first encoded plurality of bits and the second encoded plurality of bits operable to form an encoded block; 
 the alternatively selected bits operable to undergo modulation to generate a turbo coded signal that comports with a communication channel; 
 when a size of the information block matches an interleaver block size of the interleaver, the dummy bit module is operable to output the information block; and 
 when the size of the information block is an integer multiple of a predetermined, prohibited value for which tail-biting turbo encoding cannot be performed, the dummy bit module is operable to add one bit to the information block thereby generating the modified information block. 
 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the apparatus is implemented within a first communication device; 
 a turbo decoder is implemented within a second communication device; and 
 the first communication device and the second communication device are coupled via the communication channel; and wherein: 
 the turbo decoder includes a plurality of parallel arranged turbo decoders that is operable to decode the turbo coded signal. 
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the apparatus is operable within at least one of a satellite communication system, a wireless communication system, a wired communication system, and a fiber-optic communication system. 
 
     
     
       13. An apparatus, comprising:
 a dummy bit module that is operable to analyze an information block, and based on a size of the information block, is operable to:
 output the information block when a size of the information block matches a predetermined interleaver block size; or 
 add one bit to the information block thereby generating a modified information block when a size of the information block is an integer multiple of a predetermined, prohibited value for which tail-biting turbo encoding cannot be performed; 
 
 a first constituent encoder that is operable to encode the information block or the modified information block thereby generating a first encoded plurality of bits; 
 an interleaver module that is operable to employ a quadratic polynomial permutation (QPP) interleave to interleave the information block or the modified information block thereby generating an interleaved information block; 
 a second constituent encoder that is operable to encode the interleaved information block thereby generating a second encoded plurality of bits; and wherein: 
 bits alternatively selected from the first encoded plurality of bits and the second encoded plurality of bits operable to form an encoded block; and 
 the alternatively selected bits operable to undergo modulation to generate a turbo coded signal that comports with a communication channel. 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 when the size of the information block is the integer multiple of the predetermined, prohibited value for which tail-biting turbo encoding cannot be performed, the dummy bit module is operable to add the one bit to a beginning of the information block thereby generating the modified information block. 
 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the interleaver module is operable to employ a quadratic polynomial permutation (QPP) interleave when interleaving the information block or the modified information block; 
 the apparatus is implemented in a first communication device; 
 the first communication device is a coupled to a second communication device via the communication channel; 
 the second communication device is operable to receive the turbo coded signal from the communication channel; 
 the second communication device includes a turbo decoder that is operable to perform decoding processing of the turbo coded signal thereby generating a best estimate of at least one information bit encoded within the turbo coded signal; and 
 the turbo decoder is operable to employ the QPP interleave and a QPP de-interleave that corresponds to the QPP interleave when performing decoding processing of the turbo coded signal. 
 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 an apparatus being a turbo encoder; and 
 during encoding of the modified information block, the turbo encoder beginning at an initial state, transitioning through a plurality of states, and ending at a last state being same as the initial state. 
 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the apparatus is implemented within a first communication device; 
 a turbo decoder is implemented within a second communication device; and 
 the first communication device and the second communication device are coupled via the communication channel; and wherein: 
 the turbo decoder includes a plurality of parallel arranged turbo decoders that is operable to decode the turbo coded signal. 
 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the apparatus is implemented within a wireless personal communication device. 
 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the apparatus is a wireless communication device that is operable within a wireless communication system. 
 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the apparatus is operable within at least one of a satellite communication system, a wireless communication system, a wired communication system, and a fiber-optic communication system.